Asian Journal of Dairy and Food Research

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Effect of Phytobiotic Feed Additives Garlic (Allium sativum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on Carcass Quality in Broiler Chicks

Hemant Kumar Jediya1, Monika Joshi1,*, S.K. Sharma1, M.S. Meel1
1College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Navania, Udaipur-313 601, Rajasthan, India.

ABSTRACT

Background: The poultry production systems have led to marked increase in the production of poultry meat and eggs worldwide. The use of various phytobiotic feed additives as dietary supplements may have positive effect on poultry performance, carcass quality and economic benefit in poultry birds.

Methods: A feeding trial of 42 days was conducted at Veterinary College, Navania, Udaipur in the year 2021 using 300, day-old broiler chicks (Cobb-400) randomly distributed in completely randomized design. The broiler chicks were divided randomly into ten treatment groups with three replicates under each treatment. The T1 i.e. control group was fed on basal diet, while T2 was supplemented with Oxytetracycline (OTC) powder @ 0.1g/kg feed. T3 and T4 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T5 and T6 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T7 and T8 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Shatavari root powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T9 was served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.25%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.25% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.25%. T10 was served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.50%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.50% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.50%.

Result: The supplementation of Garlic powder, Ashwagandha root powder and Shatavari root powder alone and in combination had highly significant (P<0.01) effect on body weight, dressing percentage, weight of liver, heart, Gizzard and Giblet but significant (P<0.05) effect was observed on eviscerated yield. The net return per bird profit was found higher in T9 group.

INTRODUCTION

From several decades till now, poultry industry has been recognized as an important subsector of agricultural and veterinary fields due to increasing demand for meat and eggs as low cost protein sources. Feed is the major constituent in the poultry production accounts for 65-75% of total recurring expenditure (Dinani et al., 2022). Antibiotic growth promoter as feed additives have widely used in poultry production; this may result in to development of antibiotic resistance and residue in poultry products (Jadhav et al., 2021).  Continues feeding by sub-therapeutic levels of antimicrobials as growth promoter agents or antimicrobial compounds have had a negative impact on gut microflora, accumulation of antibiotic tissues residues as well as developing new strains of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria (Castanon, 2007). Therefore, in 2006, the European Union Commission banned using of antibiotics in animal feeds as a growth promoter in different countries (Europe Union Commission, 2005). It has triggered the discovery and widespread use of a number of Phytobiotics. Phytobiotics are defined as natural, less toxic and residue free plant-derived compounds that have been used as feed additives for livestock production (Wang et al., 2008). The use of various phytobiotic feed additive  as dietary supplements may have positive effect on poultry performance by increasing their growth rate, better feed conversion efficiency, greater livability and lowered mortality in poultry birds. Use of phytobiotic is considered safe without side effects to improve bird’s performance due to their suitability and choice, lower production costs, lower toxicity risk, minimal health hazards, environmental friendliness and could be used as feed additives (Devegowda, 1996).
       
Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used as spice and folk medicine since antiquity, mostly because of its antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities. Bioactive components of garlic, including several sulphur-containing compounds such as alliin, diallylsulfides and allicin, may partly account for some of these effects of garlic (Bampidis et al., 2005). Garlic having active ingredient alicine, diallyldisulfide has been considered as a wonder drug in herbal world and used as growth promoter. Garlic acts as only a mild antibiotic in comparison to modern antibiotics, but added advantage of its use as antibiotic is that the microorganisms do not develop a resistance against garlic as they do against the conventional antibiotics.
       
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is commonly known as “Indian Winter Cherry” or “Indian Ginseng”. It contains many active principles such as with anolides, somnitalglucose, inorganic salt, with anone, dihydroxykaempferol-3 and rutinosides (Murthy et al., 2009 and Pal et al., 2012). These active principles have been reported to possess immuno modulatory, general tonic, hepato-protective, anti-stress, growth promoter and antioxidant properties (Kushwaha et al., 2012 and  Varma et al., 2012) beside antibacterial and anti-fungal properties (Punetha et al., 2010).
               
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is also a herbal plant known as the “Queen of herbs” having properties like nutritive tonic, anti-stress (Kamat et al., 2000). “It possesses adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, galactogogue, anabolic and performance enhancing properties Shatavari augment the appetite and stimulates the liver function. 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Present research work was conducted at Veterinary College, Navania, Udaipur during the year 2021.
 
Experimental feed
 
The ISO certified basal mash feed in the form of broiler pre- starter, broiler starter and broiler finisher was procured from feed distributer. The broiler Pre starter feed contained 23.09% crude protein, 2.93% ether extract, 4.57% crude fiber, 4.47% total ash, 64.94% nitrogen free extract. The broiler Starter feed and broiler finisher feed contained 22.38% and 20.29% crude protein, 4.26% and 4.68% ether extract, 3.74 % and 3.79% crude fiber, 6.77% and 6.72% total ash, 62.85% and 64.52% nitrogen free extract, respectively. Garlic (Allium sativum), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) powders and Oxytetracycline were purchased from local market and medical store.
 
Experimental birds and design
 
This experiment was done on 300, day old chicks. Each bird was weighed individually on arrival and randomly distributed in Ten different dietary treatment groups (T1 - T10) using completely randomized design (CRD). The body weight of chicks has kept similar in all the groups. Each random treatment has three replicates (R1-R3) having 10 birds in each replicate.
 
Feeding regimen
 
The feeding was done in three phases, broiler pre starter (0-7 days), broiler starter (8-21days) and broiler finisher (22-42 days). Diet T1 served as control while diet T2 was supplemented with Oxytetracycline (OTC) powder @ 0.1g/kg feed. T3 and T4 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T5 and T6 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T7 and T8 were served as Basal diet supplemented with Shatavari root powder @ 0.75% and @ 1.50%. T9 was served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.25%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.25% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.25%. T10 was served as Basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.50%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.50% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.50%.
 
Experiment
 
An experiment of 42 days was conducted on total 300; day old chicks at the end of the experiment, three chicks of each replication total of nine chicks per treatment are randomly selected for evaluation of carcass characteristics. The selected chicks were weighed individually and required to fast for 12 hours to clear the contents of the intestines before sacrifice. All measurements have been calculated as a percentage of live body weight. The dressing percentage of the carcass was estimated as total edible portion of the broilers including giblets such as liver, heart and gizzard. The eviscerated weight was calculated as the remaining weight of the carcass after removal of visceral organs and other offal such as feathers, head and shank. The dressed weight and eviscerated weight were also expressed as per cent of live weight.
 
Statistical procedures
 
The data obtained in the experiment were analyzed using statistical procedures as described by Snedecor and Cochran (1994) and significance of mean differences were tested by Duncan‘s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) as modified by Kramer (1957).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Body weight
 
The average weekly body weight was highest in T10 group (2399.65g) i.e., broiler fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.50% garlic powder, 0.50% Ashwagandha root Powder and 0.50% Shatavari root powder and significant highly (P<0.01) as compared to the control group (2113.25g) (Table 1). The observation made in this study corroborate the finding of Senthilkumar et al., (2015), Makwana et al., (2019) and Singh et al., (2019) reported significant increase in body weight in Garlic powder supplemented group as compared to control group. Vasanthakumar et al., (2015); Singh et al., (2017); Dhenge et al., (2018); Kumari et al., (2020) reported that significantly increase in body weight in Ashwagandha powder supplemented group and Singh et al., (2018); Chikwa et al., (2018) reported that increase in body weight in Shatavari powder supplemented group as compared to control group.

Table 1: Effect of Garlic powder, Ashwagandha root powder and Shatavari root powder on average body weight (g) and Net return/birds (Rs) in broiler chicks.



Dressing and eviscerated yield
 
The highest dressing percentage and eviscerated yield was recorded to be (73.60% and 68.49%) in T10 group i.e., broiler fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.50% garlic powder, 0.50% Ashwagandha root Powder and 0.50% Shatavari root powder and lowest dressing percentage and eviscerated yield was recorded to be (71.51% and 66.94%) in T1 (Control) group i.e., broiler fed a basal diet (Table 2). The highly significant (P<0.01) effect was observed on dressing percentage and significant (P<0.05) effect on eviscerated yield. The Present results were in accordance with Makwana et al., (2018); Makwana et al., (2019) observed that significant increase in dressing percentage by diet supplemented with garlic powder as compared to control group. Singh et al., (2017); Biswas et al., (2020) reported that significant increase in dressing percentage by diet supplemented with Ashwagandha powder and  Pandey et al., (2013); Gaikwad et al., (2015) report that significant increase in dressing percentage by diet supplemented with Shatavari powder as compared to control group.

Table 2: Effect of garlic powder, ashwagandha root powder and Shatavari root powder on carcass parameters (% of live weight) in broiler chicks.


 
Organ’s weight
 
The highest weight of liver was recorded in T9 group (74.16 g) i.e., broiler fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.25% garlic powder, 0.25% Ashwagandha root powder and 0.25% Shatavari root powder, while highest weight of heart (12.51 g), Gizzard (36.68 g) and Giblet (122.66 g) was recorded in T10 group i.e., broiler fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.50% garlic powder, 0.50% Ashwagandha root powder and 0.50% Shatavari root powder. The Lowest weight of liver, heart, gizzard and giblet was recorded in T1 (Control) group i.e., 52.74, 10.12, 33.81 and 96.67% respectively (Table 3). The highly significant (P<0.01) effect on weight of liver, heart, Gizzard and Giblet due to supplementation of Garlic, Ashwagandha and Shatavari powder alone and in combination at different levels in broilers ration. Similarly, Makwana et al., (2018); and Islam et al., (2017) reported significant improvement of Giblet weight (%) by broilers fed garlic supplemented diet as compared to control. Singh et al., (2017) reported significant improvement of Giblet weight (%) by broilers fed Ashwagandha supplemented diet as compared to control.

Table 3: Effect of garlic powder, Ashwagandha root powder and Shatavari root powder on organs weight (g) in broiler chicks.


 
Economics
 
The net return (Rs.) per bird was 23.60 in T1 group, 32.86 in T2 group, 25.94 in T3 group, 17.97 in T4 group, 30.28 in T5 group, 18.21 in T6 group, 34.90 in T7 group, 25.50 in T8 group, 50.08 in T9 group and 46.62 in T10 group (Table 1). The net return per bird profit was found higher in T9 group i.e., basal diet supplemented with Garlic powder @ 0.25%, Ashwagandha root powder @ 0.25% and Shatavari root powder @ 0.25% followed by T10, T7, T2, T5, T3, T8, T1, T6 and T4 treatment groups, respectively. Similarly, Makwana et al., (2018); observed that dietary supplementation of Garlic group had a positive effect in net profit per bird in broiler chicks as compared to control group. Shisodiya et al., (2008); Gaikwad et al., (2015) and Mali et al., (2017) observed that dietary supplementation of Ashwagandha and Shatavari had a positive effect in net profit per bird in broiler chicks as compared to control group, respectively.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that there was highly significant (P<0.01) effect were observed on body weight, dressing percentage, weight of liver, heart, Gizzard and Giblet and significant (P<0.05) effect on eviscerated yield. Supplementation of Garlic powder, Ashwagandha root powder and Shatavari root powder in basal died is quite effective and could be a viable proposal for profitable broiler farming for meat production.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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